Using mHealth to reduce disparities in Black maternal health: Perspectives from Black rural postpartum mothers.

BACKGROUND: Racial disparities are evident in maternal morbidity and mortality rates globally. Black women are more likely to die from pregnancy and childbirth than any other race or ethnicity. This leaves one of the largest gaps in women's health to date. OBJECTIVES: mHealth interventions that connect with women soon after discharge may assist in individualizing and formalizing support for mothers in the early postpartum period. To aid in developing an mHealth application, Black postpartum mothers' perspectives were examined. DESIGN: Utilizing the Sojourner Syndrome Framework and Maternal Mortality & Morbidity Measurement Framework, group interview discussion guides were developed to examine the facilitators and barriers of postpartum transitional care for rural Black women living in the United States to inform the development of a mobile health application. METHODS: In this study, seven group interviews were held with Black mothers, their support persons, and healthcare providers in rural Georgia to aid in the development of the Prevent Maternal Mortality Using Mobile Technology (PM3) mobile health (mHealth) application. Group interviews included questions about (1) post-birth experiences; (2) specific needs (e.g. clinical, social support, social services, etc.) in the postpartum period; (3) perspectives on current hospital discharge processes and information; (4) lived experiences with racism, classism, and/or gender discrimination; and (5) desired features and characteristics for the mobile app development. RESULTS: Fourteen out of the 78 screened participants were eligible and completed the group interview. Major discussion themes included: accessibility to healthcare and resources due to rurality, issues surrounding race and perceived racism, mental and emotional well-being in the postpartum period, and perspectives on the PM3 mobile application. CONCLUSION: Participants emphasized the challenges that postpartum Black women face in relation to accessibility, racism and discrimination, and mental health. The women favored a culturally relevant mHealth tool and highlighted the need to tailor the application to address disparities.

Recommendations to improve maternal health equity among Black women in "The South": A position paper from the SNRS minority health research interest & implementation group.

Black women in the United States experience a higher maternal mortality rate compared to other racial groups. The maternal mortality rate among non-Hispanic Black women is 3.5 times that of non-Hispanic White women and is higher in the South compared to other regions. The majority of pregnancy-related deaths in Black women are deemed to be preventable. Healthy People 2030 directs healthcare providers to advance health equity through societal efforts to address avoidable inequalities, historical and contemporary injustices, and the elimination of health and healthcare disparities. The Southern Nursing Research Society has put forward this position paper to provide recommendations to improve maternal health equity among Black women. Recommendations for nurses, multidisciplinary healthcare providers, policymakers, and researchers are discussed.

Racial Disparities in Severe Maternal Morbidity in an Integrated Health Care System, Southern California, 2008-2017.

OBJECTIVE: The study's objectives were to examine rates of severe maternal morbidity (SMM) over a 10-year period and assess racial/ethnic disparities in SMM among insured women in a large, integrated health care system in Southern California. METHODS: We included Kaiser Permanente Southern California (KPSC) health plan members who gave birth at ≥20 weeks' gestation in a KPSC-owned hospital during 2008-2017. An SMM case was defined as presence of one or more indicators of an SMM event during a birth hospitalization, identified using maternal electronic health records. Crude SMM rates/10,000 births were calculated by year and maternal race/ethnicity. Modified Poisson regression models were used to assess the association between race/ethnicity and SMM adjusted for other maternal demographics, pregnancy characteristics, and preexisting conditions. RESULTS: We identified 5,915 SMM cases among 335,310 births. Crude SMM rates increased from 94.7 per 10,000 in 2008 to 192.6 in 2015 and 249.5 in 2017. Non-Hispanic Black (adjusted risk ratio [aRR] 1.52; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.37-1.69), Asian/Pacific Islander (aRR 1.29, 95% CI 1.18-1.41), and Hispanic (aRR 1.18, 95% CI 1.10-1.27) women had greater likelihood of SMM than non-Hispanic White women. After further adjusting for preexisting health conditions, differences in SMM by race/ethnicity remained. CONCLUSIONS: SMM rates increased during 2008-2017 and women of racial and ethnic minority groups, particularly non-Hispanic Black women, were more likely to experience an SMM event than non-Hispanic White women. Multilevel approaches to understanding structural and social factors that may be associated with racial and ethnic disparities in SMM are needed to develop and test effective interventions to reduce SMM.

Safe birth in cultural safety in southern Mexico: a pragmatic non-inferiority cluster-randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Available research on the contribution of traditional midwifery to safe motherhood focuses on retraining and redefining traditional midwives, assuming cultural prominence of Western ways. Our objective was to test if supporting traditional midwives on their own terms increases cultural safety (respect of Indigenous traditions) without worsening maternal health outcomes. METHODS: Pragmatic parallel-group cluster-randomised controlled non-inferiority trial in four municipalities in Guerrero State, southern Mexico, with Nahua, Na savi, Me'phaa and Nancue ñomndaa Indigenous groups. The study included all pregnant women in 80 communities and 30 traditional midwives in 40 intervention communities. Between July 2015 and April 2017, traditional midwives and their apprentices received a monthly stipend and support from a trained intercultural broker, and local official health personnel attended a workshop for improving attitudes towards traditional midwifery. Forty communities in two control municipalities continued with usual health services. Trained Indigenous female interviewers administered a baseline and follow-up household survey, interviewing all women who reported pregnancy or childbirth in all involved municipalities since January 2016. Primary outcomes included childbirth and neonatal complications, perinatal deaths, and postnatal complications, and secondary outcomes were traditional childbirth (at home, in vertical position, with traditional midwife and family), access and experience in Western healthcare, food intake, reduction of heavy work, and cost of health care. RESULTS: Among 872 completed pregnancies, women in intervention communities had lower rates of primary outcomes (perinatal deaths or childbirth or neonatal complications) (RD -0.06 95%CI - 0.09 to - 0.02) and reported more traditional childbirths (RD 0.10 95%CI 0.02 to 0.18). Among institutional childbirths, women from intervention communities reported more traditional management of placenta (RD 0.34 95%CI 0.21 to 0.48) but also more non-traditional cold-water baths (RD 0.10 95%CI 0.02 to 0.19). Among home-based childbirths, women from intervention communities had fewer postpartum complications (RD -0.12 95%CI - 0.27 to 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Supporting traditional midwifery increased culturally safe childbirth without worsening health outcomes. The fixed population size restricted our confidence for inference of non-inferiority for mortality outcomes. Traditional midwifery could contribute to safer birth among Indigenous communities if, instead of attempting to replace traditional practices, health authorities promoted intercultural dialogue. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Retrospectively registered ISRCTN12397283 . Trial status: concluded.

In many Indigenous communities, traditional midwives support mothers during pregnancy, childbirth, and some days afterwards. Research involving traditional midwives has focused on training them in Western techniques and redefining their role to support Western care. In Guerrero state, Mexico, Indigenous mothers continue to trust traditional midwives. Almost half of these mothers still prefer traditional childbirths, at home, in the company of their families and following traditional practices. We worked with 30 traditional midwives to see if supporting their practice allowed traditional childbirth without worsening mothers' health. Each traditional midwife received an inexpensive stipend, a scholarship for an apprentice and support from an intercultural broker. The official health personnel participated in a workshop to improve their attitudes towards traditional midwives. We compared 40 communities in two municipalities that received support for traditional midwifery with 40 communities in two municipalities that continued to receive usual services. We interviewed 872 women with childbirth between 2016 and 2017. Mothers in intervention communities suffered fewer complications during childbirth and had fewer complications or deaths of their babies. They had more traditional childbirths and fewer perineal tears or infections across home-based childbirths. Among those who went to Western care, mothers in intervention communities had more traditional management of the placenta but more non-traditional cold-water baths. Supporting traditional midwifery increased traditional childbirth without worsening health outcomes. The small size of participating populations limited our confidence about the size of this difference. Health authorities could promote better health outcomes if they worked with traditional midwives instead of replacing them.

Spousal support during pregnancy in the Nigerian rural context: a mixed methods study.

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy constitutes a global health concern, thus the need for spousal support during this period cannot be overemphasized. This study examined the kinds of support pregnant women expected and received from their spouses as well as the effect of such supports during pregnancy, labour, and delivery. METHODS: The study adopted both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection. The respondents were selected using multistage and simple random sampling techniques. RESULTS: Findings showed that respondents expected and received maximum support from their spouses during pregnancy, labour, and delivery. Spiritual support such as praying and fasting was top of the kinds of support pregnant women expected and received from their husbands during pregnancy and delivery. Others include helping in house chores, financial provision, taking care of other children, accompanying to labour room, and sexual support. More than three-quarters of the respondents stated that maximum support from their husbands made pregnancy, labour, and delivery easier. Cramer's V showed that the association between support and husbands' occupation was 0.233 and Pearson Chi-square showed that the association was statistically significant χ2(2) = 27.894,p < .001. CONCLUSION: The study concluded that spousal support during pregnancy was high among rural women in Southwestern Nigeria, and it impacted positively on their wife's period of pregnancy, labour, and delivery. A high level of spousal support should be sustained to promote family bonding and development as well as reduce maternal and child mortality.

Understanding racial disparities in severe maternal morbidity using Bayesian network analysis.

Previous studies have evaluated the marginal effect of various factors on the risk of severe maternal morbidity (SMM) using regression approaches. We add to this literature by utilizing a Bayesian network (BN) approach to understand the joint effects of clinical, demographic, and area-level factors. We conducted a retrospective observational study using linked birth certificate and insurance claims data from the Arkansas All-Payer Claims Database (APCD), for the years 2013 through 2017. We used various learning algorithms and measures of arc strength to choose the most robust network structure. We then performed various conditional probabilistic queries using Monte Carlo simulation to understand disparities in SMM. We found that anemia and hypertensive disorder of pregnancy may be important clinical comorbidities to target in order to reduce SMM overall as well as racial disparities in SMM.

Group problem solving therapy for perinatal depression in primary health care settings in rural Uganda: an intervention cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Perinatal depression is of substantial public health importance in low and middle income countries. The study aimed to evaluate the impact of a mental health intervention delivered by non-specialist health workers on symptom severity and disability in women with perinatal depression in Uganda. METHODS: Pregnant women in the second and third trimester were consecutively screened using the Luganda version of the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Women who scored ≥5 on the PHQ-9 and who were confirmed to have depression by a midwife were recruited into a treatment cohort and offered a psychological intervention in a stepped care fashion. Women were assessed with PHQ-9 and WHODAS-2.0 at baseline and again at 3 and 6 months after the intervention. Negative regression analysis was done to examine change in PHQ-9 and WHODAS-2.0 scores from baseline to end line. Data were analysed using STATA version 14. RESULTS: A total of 2652 pregnant women (98.3%) consented to participate in the study and 153 (5.8%) were diagnosed as depressed. Over a quarter (28.8%) reported having experienced physical interpersonal violence (IPV) while (25.5%) reported sexual IPV in the past year. A third (34.7%) of women diagnosed with depression received 4 or more group PST sessions. There was a mean reduction in PHQ-9 score of 5.13 (95%CI - 6.79 to - 3.47, p < 0.001) and 7.13 (95%CI - 8.68 to - 5.59, p < 0.001) at midline and endline, respectively. WHODAS scores reduced significantly by - 11.78 points (CI 17.64 to - 5.92, p < 0.001) at midline and - 22.92 points (CI 17.64 to - 5.92, p < 0.001) at endline. Clinical response was noted among 69.1% (95%CI 60.4-76.6%) and 93.7% (95%CI 87.8-96.8%) of respondents at midline and endline, respectively. CONCLUSION: An evidence based psychological intervention implemented in primary antenatal care by trained and supervised midwives in a real-world setting may lead to improved outcomes for women with perinatal depression. Future randomised studies are needed to confirm the efficacy of this intervention and possibility for scale up.

Factors influencing maternal healthcare seeking in a highland region of Madagascar: a mixed methods analysis.

BACKGROUND: In Madagascar, maternal mortality remains stable and high (426 deaths per 100,000 live births). This situation is mainly due to a delay or lack of use of maternal healthcare services. Problems related to maternal healthcare services are well documented in Madagascar, but little information related to maternal healthcare seeking is known. Thus, this paper aims to identify and analyze the factors that influence the utilization of maternal services, specifically, the use of antenatal care (ANC) during pregnancy and the use of skilled birth attendants (SBAs) at delivery. METHOD: We used quantitative and qualitative approaches in the study. Two communes of the Vakinankaratra region, which are located in the highlands, were the settings. Data collection occurred from October 2016 to July 2017. A total of 245 pregnant women were included and followed up in the quantitative survey, and among them, 35 participated in in-depth interviews(IDIs). Logistic regressions were applied to explore the influencing factors of antenatal and delivery healthcare seeking practices through thematic qualitative analysis. RESULTS: Among the 245 women surveyed, 13.9% did not attend any ANC visits. School level, occupation and gravidity positively influenced the likelihood of attending one or more ANC visits. The additional use of traditional caregivers remained predominant and was perceived as potentially complementary to medical care. Nine in ten (91%) women expressed a preference for delivery at healthcare facilities (HFs), but 61% of births were assisted by a skilled birth attendant (SBA).The school level; the frequency of ANCs; the origin region; and the preference between modern or traditional care influenced the use of SBAs at delivery. A lack of preparation (financial and logistics problems) and women's low involvement in decision making at delivery were the main barriers to giving birth at HFs. CONCLUSION: The use of maternal healthcare services is starting to gain ground, although many women and their relatives still use traditional caregivers at the same time. Relatives play a crucial role in maternal healthcare seeking. It would be necessary to target women's relatives for awareness-raising messages about ANC and childbirth in healthcare facilities and to support and formalize collaborations between traditional healers and biomedical caregivers.

Pregnancy and birth characteristics of Aboriginal twins in two Australian states: a data linkage study.

INTRODUCTION: Perinatal outcomes for singleton pregnancies are poorer, on average, for Aboriginal people than non-Aboriginal people, but little is known about Aboriginal multifetal pregnancies. Yet multifetal pregnancies and births are often more complicated and have poorer outcomes than singleton pregnancies. We describe the pregnancies, births and perinatal outcomes for Aboriginal twins born in Western Australia (WA) and New South Wales (NSW) with comparisons to Aboriginal singletons in both states and to non-Aboriginal births in NSW. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Whole-population birth records and birth and death registrations were linked for all births during 2000-2013 (WA) and 2002-2008 (NSW). Hospital records and the WA Register of Developmental Anomalies - Cerebral Palsy were linked for all WA births and hospital records for a subset of NSW births. Descriptive statistics are reported for maternal and child demographics, maternal health, pregnancy complications, births and perinatal outcomes. RESULTS: Thirty-four thousand one hundred twenty-seven WA Aboriginal, 32,352 NSW Aboriginal and 601,233 NSW non-Aboriginal births were included. Pregnancy complications were more common among mothers of Aboriginal twins than Aboriginal singletons (e.g. 17% of mothers of WA twins had hypertension/pre-eclampsia/eclampsia vs 8% of mothers of singletons) but similar to mothers of NSW non-Aboriginal twins. Most Aboriginal twins were born in a principal referral, women's or large public hospital. The hospitals were often far from the mother's home (e.g. 31% of mothers of WA Aboriginal twins gave birth at hospitals located more than 3 h by road from their home). Outcomes were worse for Aboriginal liveborn twins than Aboriginal singletons and non-Aboriginal twins (e.g. 58% of NSW Aboriginal twins were preterm compared to 9% of Aboriginal singletons and 49% non-Aboriginal twins). CONCLUSIONS: Mothers of Aboriginal twins faced significant challenges during the pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period in hospital and, in addition to accessible specialist medical care, these mothers may need extra practical and psychosocial support throughout their journey.

The Ambiguity Imperative: "Success" in a Maternal Health Program in Uganda.

Global health programs are compelled to demonstrate impact on their target populations. We study an example of social franchising - a popular healthcare delivery model in low/middle-income countries - in the Ugandan private maternal health sector. The discrepancies between the program's official profile and its actual operation reveal the franchise responded to its beneficiaries, but in a way incoherent with typical evidence production on social franchises, which privileges simple narratives blurring the details of program enactment. Building on concepts of not-knowing and the production of success, we consider the implications of an imperative to maintain ambiguity in global health programming and academia.

Factors influencing maternal health choices among women of reproductive age in Hausa communities in Ibadan, Nigeria: an exploratory study.

INTRODUCTION: decision making is a vital aspect of women's reproductive life. In an attempt to fulfil the desire to procreate, women's lives are lost especially in developing countries where medical care is still inadequate. The researchers sought to explore the Hausa people's culture as regards maternal health choices concerning modern family planning methods, delivery places and parity. METHODS: a cross-sectional study using mixed methods was conducted among women of reproductive age (N=253) in three Hausa communities in Ibadan. Based on the objectives, semi-structured questionnaire and in-depth interview guide were used for data collection. Quantitative data were analysed using Chi-square and the level significance set at 0.05 while qualitative data were analysed thematically. RESULTS: over fifty percent respondents had more than 3 children and about one third (33.9%) preferred having more than 4 children. Nearly all participants (94%) were aware of modern family planning methods but only 49.0% used them. The most widely used methods are injectables (22.0%) and condoms (20.6%). Almost half of the study population (46.5%) delivered their babies at home with assistance from other residents with most preferring home delivery for various reasons. CONCLUSION: although the level of awareness about family planning methods is quite satisfactory, however, the level of contraceptive uptake is still sub-optimal. Most Hausa women prefer home delivery which predisposes them to associated complications. Findings further identified various reasons for maternal health choices and provided insights on viable nursing interventions that can be adopted to promote skilled birth delivery to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality.

More to lose? Longitudinal evidence that women whose social support declines following childbirth are at increased risk of depression.

OBJECTIVE: We examined the dynamic relationship between life changes (pregnancy and childbirth) and social support during the postpartum period. METHODS: A large, nationally representative sample of Australian women (N=806) who completed the Household Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey (HILDA) in the year immediately before and immediately after giving birth to a child reported on measures of perceived social support and mental health. RESULTS: Analyses indicated a decrease in both social support and mental health after having a baby. Social support during the postpartum period - controlling for social support and mental health prior to the birth of a baby - predicted better mental health in women. However, for women who experienced a decline in social support, prenatal social support was a risk factor for a decline in mental wellbeing rather than a protective factor. CONCLUSIONS: Women who have 'more to lose' are at increased risk of mental ill-health if they cannot maintain existing sources of social support. Implications for public health: Loss of social support during pregnancy and the postpartum period should be considered as a significant risk factor for postpartum depression in its own right and one that warrants screening and intervention.

Men perspectives on attending antenatal care visits with their pregnant partners in Misungwi district, rural Tanzania: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Mens'attendance with their pregnant partners at facility-based antenatal care (ANC) visits is important for maternal and child health and gender equality yet remains uncommon in parts of rural Tanzania. This study examined men's perspectives on attending ANC with their pregnant partners in Misungwi District, Tanzania. METHODS: Twelve individual interviews and five focus group discussions were conducted using semi-structured questionnaires with fathers, expectant fathers, and in-depth interviews were done to health providers, volunteer community health workers, and village leaders. Interviews were recorded and transcribed in Swahili and later translated to English. The research team conducted thematic analysis to identify common themes among interviews. RESULTS: We identified two broad themes on the barriers to male attendance at facility-based ANC visits: (1) Perceived exclusion during ANC visits among men (2) Traditional gender norms resulting to low attendance among men. CONCLUSION: Attendance at health facility for ANC visits by men with their pregnant partners in the study areas were challenged by structural and local cultural norms. At the facility men were uncomfortable to sit with women due to lack of specific waiting area for men and that they perceived to be neglected. Local cultural norms demanded women to have secrecy in pregnancy while men perceived not to have a role of being with their partners during ANC visits.

Understanding Racial Disparities of Preterm Birth Through the Placenta.

The racial disparity associated with preterm birth is a public health concern in the United States. The placenta is the principal metabolic, respiratory, and endocrine organ of the fetus and a key route by which environmental exposures are transmitted from mother to offspring. Available at every delivery, it may serve as a marker of differences in prenatal exposures that manifest differently by race. Recently, we described differences in placental pathology between African-American and White preterm births: the prevalence of chronic inflammation was higher among African-American women's placentas compared with those of White women. Similarly, racial differences have been shown in placental malperfusion and placental weight. Social determinants such as poverty and stress from discrimination have been implicated in racial disparities in preterm birth. To date, however, the underlying biological mechanisms, whether through inflammatory, oxidative stress, or other pathways involving epigenetic programming, remain largely unknown. The placenta, complemented by maternal and umbilical cord blood biomarkers, may provide important information on the perinatal environment that explains the origins of racial disparities in preterm birth rates and subsequent health outcomes. This article reviews existing literature and current research gaps. Opportunities are discussed for future placental research that may reveal novel mechanisms leading to the development of new approaches in the prevention and management of preterm birth and its outcomes.

Addressing inequities in maternal health among women living in communities of social disadvantage and ethnic diversity.

The response to the coronavirus outbreak and how the disease and its societal consequences pose risks to already vulnerable groups such those who are socioeconomically disadvantaged and ethnic minority groups. Researchers and community groups analysed how the COVID-19 crisis has exacerbated persisting vulnerabilities, socio-economic and structural disadvantage and discrimination faced by many communities of social disadvantage and ethnic diversity, and discussed future strategies on how best to engage and involve local groups in research to improve outcomes for childbearing women experiencing mental illness and those living in areas of social disadvantage and ethnic diversity. Discussions centred around: access, engagement and quality of care; racism, discrimination and trust; the need for engagement with community stakeholders; and the impact of wider social and economic inequalities. Addressing biomedical factors alone is not sufficient, and integrative and holistic long-term public health strategies that address societal and structural racism and overall disadvantage in society are urgently needed to improve health disparities and can only be implemented in partnership with local communities.

Using the Ecological Systems Theory to Understand Black/White Disparities in Maternal Morbidity and Mortality in the United States.

Maternal morbidity and mortality (MMM) is a significant problem in the USA, with about 700 maternal deaths every year and an estimated 50,000 "near misses." Disparities in MMM by race are marked; black women are disproportionately affected. We use Urie Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory to examine the root causes of racial disparities in MMM at the individual (microsystem), interpersonal (mesosystem), community (exosystem), and societal (macrosystem) levels of influence. This review discusses the interaction of these levels of influence on racial disparities related to MMM-covering preconception health, access to prenatal care, implicit bias among health care providers and its possible influence on obstetric care, "maternity care deserts," and the need for quality improvement among black-serving hospitals. Relevant policies-parental leave, Medicaid coverage during pregnancy, and Medicaid expansion-are considered. We also apply the ecological systems theory to identify interventions that would most likely reduce disparities in MMM by race, such as revising the educational curricula of health care professionals, enhancing utilization of alternate prenatal care providers, and reforming Medicaid policies.

Statewide Severe Maternal Morbidity Review in Illinois.

OBJECTIVE: To address rising rates of severe maternal morbidity and persistent racial disparities, Illinois established severe maternal morbidity review in all obstetric hospitals. The purpose of this study is to describe the findings from the statewide severe maternal morbidity review in 2018. METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of a hospital-level severe maternal morbidity review that occurred in 2018 (n=408) compared with all 2018 Illinois live births (n=141,595), inclusive of any severe maternal morbidity cases resulting in a live birth before hospital discharge. Cases were chosen for review based on completeness of records, complexity of the case, or an assessment that cases presented opportunities for learning and quality improvement; ie, not all severe maternal morbidity cases were reviewed. We present descriptive characteristics that contributed to the severe maternal morbidity event, and health care professional, system, and patient opportunities to alter the severe maternal morbidity outcome. RESULTS: A total of 408 severe maternal morbidity cases were reviewed. Women with severe maternal morbidity were more likely to be non-Hispanic Black, multiparous, aged 35 years or older, have public insurance, and receive inadequate prenatal care. The most common causes of severe maternal morbidity were hemorrhage (48%), and preeclampsia and eclampsia (20%). Overall, 42% of severe maternal morbidity cases had opportunities to improve care. Non-Hispanic Black women had a disproportionately high burden of severe maternal morbidity due to preeclampsia and eclampsia (31% vs 18.1%) and were more likely to need improvement in care compared with non-Hispanic White women (53% vs 39.0%). The most common opportunities to alter the severe maternal morbidity outcome were health care professional factors during the intrapartum (9%) and postpartum (10%) periods. CONCLUSION: Standardized severe maternal morbidity review gives a fuller view of the state of maternal health and highlights opportunities to improve quality of care.

Use of photovoice to explore the potential role of youth in contributing to maternal health in rural Wakiso district, Uganda.

Despite youth constituting a large portion of the population in Uganda, their involvement in improving maternal health in their communities has been minimal. This paper explores the potential role of youth in contributing to maternal health in rural communities in Wakiso district, Uganda using photovoice. Photovoice was used as a community-based participatory research method among 10 youth (5 males and 5 females) over a period of 5 months. The photos taken by the youth were discussed in monthly meetings, and emerging data was analysed using thematic content analysis. Four themes emerged regarding how youth can contribute to improving maternal health in their communities. These themes were: community health education; advocacy for health improvement; community voluntary work; and being exemplary. The fifth and final theme provides the avenues, including drama and sports, that the youth suggested they could use for conveying messages to the community concerning maternal and general health. Health education on topics such as the importance of delivering at health facilities was emphasised. Regarding advocacy, the youth said they can be involved in reaching out to various stakeholders to raise concerns affecting maternal health. Voluntary work such as construction of energy stoves for pregnant women emerged. The youth also highlighted that they could be exemplary for instance by males accompanying their spouses during antenatal visits. With the need to continuously engage community actors in health initiatives, youth should be considered and supported as important stakeholders so they may engage in activities to improve health within their communities.

Structural Racism and Maternal Health Among Black Women.

Historical foundations rooted in reproductive oppression have implications for how racism has been integrated into the structures of society, including public policies, institutional practices, and cultural representations that reinforce racial inequality in maternal health. This article examines these connections and sheds light on how they perpetuate both racial disparities in maternal health and high rates of maternal mortality and morbidity among Black women.